Hi,
Is there a good phone comparison chart on a web site I can view? The sticky post Q&A is below.
I am a consultant and travel to different countries, with Europe and South America being the most visited in the past 4 years. I usually purchase a phone in the country I am visiting but am considering buying my own phone that I can use in different countries. I currently am on the Alltel (now Verizon) network in the U.S. as Alltel (now Verizon) has the best coverage by far of all the carriers in this city and surrounding areas.
I believe I will need a phone with the following 4 characteristics. Am I correct?
1) quad band
2) dual network
3) removable sim card or dual sim card
4) unlocked
Some capabilities (these are not requirements) that would be nice are:
1) Wi-Fi enabled, so I do not need to sign up for a data plan
2) Excel spreadsheet
3) Email capable
4) GPS capable (so I can avoid having to carry a 2nd electronic device)
Any phones out there fit this bill? This is why I am asking if anyone knows a good on-line, phone comparison chart.
I think the following phones might but I am just starting my research tonight and these are the phones that for some reason caught my eye.
1) BB Storm
2) Saga
3) TouchPro
4) Diamond
5) i910
6) xv6900
7) Centro
SMT5800
9) i760
10) Omnia
Thanks for the help.
From the sticky post:
1. What PDA and/or mobile phone do you use today?
No PDA
2. Are you locked into a mobile carrier (i.e. Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS, etc.), or do you prefer a particular carrier? Do you know if one carrier has better coverage in places that you need to be? (PLEASE SEE THE CARRIER NOTE BELOW)
Locked into Alltel or Verizon due to coverage reasons only. Currently I have an Alltel plan and my wife has a Verizon phone. Alltel has the best coverage but Verizon is a close 2nd, and the difference may be just the phones themselves. My Alltel plan expries in June 2009 and I am heavily considering switching to Verizon due to a discount plan I am eligible for based on one of my consultant contracts.
3. Where are you based? Do you stay in one place or travel a lot? Do you travel internationally... how much and where? Do you intend to use your pdaPhone there?
I am based in Albuquerque, NM, USA 90% of the time but travel 2 - 4 times per year to South America, Great Britain, or Europe. My desire is to use my PDAphone where ever I go by switchin gout the Sim Card.
4. Do have a preference of Palm, Pocket PC, Symbian, Smartphone OS, Blackberry, etc.?
No real preference as long as the phone has Excel on it so I can enter my expenses in my custom spreadsheet as I incur the expenses.
5. Are you likely to run it the way it came out of the box, or do you intend to load a whole lot of extra applications and stuff on it? Do you know of anything now that you will need to run?
I will run it the way it came out of the box. The only thing I know now I need to run is Excel.
6. How important is wireless data access, and for what would you use it? (i.e. Web browsing, VPN, Remote termnial Access, Instant messaging, etc)?
I will only use wireless data access for web browsing.
7. Will you need to view Microsoft Office documents on the pdaPhone? Will you need to edit them?
Yes, I will need to view and edit Microsoft Office documents, specifically Excel.
8. Will you need access to an email system?
Yes.
a)Is it corporate (Exchange, Groupwise,Lotus, Other?) What Version? Do you want email wirelessly or do you want to do it in the office with a sync cable/cradle? Can you get your Corporate email configured for mobile access or do you need to run a desktop redirector?
No.
b)Is it Pop3/Imap? Who is the service provider?
Yahoo i sthe email address and HughesNet is the service provider I have at home.
9. Do you do SMS messaging a lot (telephone to telephone messaging)?
[u]I am a light user of SMS.[u]
10. Do you want to use a GPS with the pdaPhone for mapping and navigation?
GPS is a nicety but not a requirement. If the phone has it I would use it.
11. What is your size preference.. very close to the smallest cellphone, or you don’t care.. function over size?
No size preference.
12. How will you carry it... pocket, belt, purse, etc.?
Pocket.
13. Do you prefer a particular form factor… flip-phone, candy bar, etc?
I my experience flip phones do not have good reception capabilities. Strong reception capability is a definite requirement.
14. Do you prefer a QWERTY keyboard, numeric dial-pad, or stylus?
No real preference.
15. Do you want to play a lot of video games on the pdaPhone? What kinds - puzzles, strategy, action adventure, etc.?
No.
16. Do you want to listen to music on the pdaPhone? What kind... mp3, streamed, etc.?
No.
17. Do you want a camera on the pdaPhone?
Yes.
18. Do you have any other hardware you intend to use with the pdaPhone?
Yes.Do you intend to use any Bluetooth devices?
Yes.What types of devices?
19. What kind of battery life do you need?(Always near a charger, battery life is not an issue or Need the battery to last several days) How many hours do you expect to spend talking on the phone? How many hours of data?(Web browsing, push email, VPN, IM etc)
Battery should last 2 - 3 days between charges but I always have access to a charger.
20. What are your budget limits (pdaPhones range in price from below $100 for older used models to nearly $1000 for high end models without a carrier subisidy)?
Prefer to stay within $200 - $400 but.....